Accident at work leads to city employee’s death

On behalf of Jeffrey Frederick of Frederick & Hagle posted in Workplace Accidents on Monday, November 3, 2014.

Working at a computer or desk job may seem particularly safe to some people in Illinois, but serious workplace accidents don’t discriminate by gender, race or profession. An out-of-state city discovered how true this can be after an employee suffered serious injuries during a strange accident at work. Sadly, the woman didn’t make it. 

The victim had worked for her city for 11 years when the accident occurred. Although she was employed as a specialist in accounts payable, a position that generally takes place in front of a computer, the woman had to access a vault at the city’s town hall for work-related reasons. After opening the vault door, it unexpectedly unhinged and collapsed, pinning her to the floor.

The woman was unable to escape until emergency crews eventually freed her from the door’s crushing weight. Although originally taken to a nearby hospital, her injuries warranted her being airlifted to a different medical center. Despite the change in medical care, three days after the initial accident, she succumbed to her injury.

A serious accident at work isn’t isolated to already hazardous areas, such as construction sites or warehouses. Even Illinois employees who feel as though they work in relatively safe positions may be at risk if certain facilities are not properly maintained or safety precautions are not observed. Unfortunately, some employees never make it through their injuries, leaving behind emotionally and financially devastated families. In situations such as this, workers’ compensation does not simply apply to those who have been injured, but to their families, who can seek justice and temporary compensation through a death benefits package.

Source: wdbj7.com, “Town of South Boston employee dies from injuries sustained in vault door accident“, Oct. 29, 2014